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Red pepper flakes

Red pepper flakes are crushed dried red peppers used to add heat and color to savory dishes.

Red pepper flakes — illustrative ingredient image

About Red pepper flakes

Red pepper flakes are dried red chili peppers broken into coarse pieces, usually retaining some seeds and inner membranes. They are sprinkled over pizza, pasta, vegetables, beans, soups, and other savory dishes, or added during cooking to distribute heat through a dish.

Their flavor ranges from bright and mildly fruity to darker, hotter, and more pungent, depending on the peppers used. Heat varies substantially according to pepper variety and how much seed and membrane remain, while the dry, light pieces provide irregular rather than powdery texture.

They range from red to deep crimson and are sold as loose dried flakes, either from one pepper type or as a blend. Commercial versions may retain differing amounts of seeds and membranes; crushing dried peppers into coarse pieces produces the characteristic flake form rather than a powder.

Ingredient type
seasoning

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Where red pepper flakes appears

7 linked foods

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Main dishes

Sides

Snacks

Soups

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for red pepper flakes

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Red pepper flakes

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Red pepper flakes nutrition & diet

Red pepper flakes nutritional value

Representative benchmark: Spices, not further specified

Representative nutrition benchmarkOfficial table values for a comparable food category, not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient.

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
349kcal
Protein
12.1g
Carbs
30.5g
Fat
14.5g

Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Use crushed dried red pepper in the amount actually added, distinguishing flakes from powder and noting retained seeds and membranes. Blends may include other peppers, salt, oil, or spices, so a packaged mixture should not be treated as a single-pepper reference.

Compare the right form: Match references to plain dried red pepper flakes, specifying pepper identity, grind, seed content, and any blend or added seasoning.

Diet considerations

Red pepper flakes are plant-derived when they contain only dried pepper. Packaged blends may include salt, oil, cereal-based carriers, or other seasonings, which alter compatibility. They are generally used in small portions, while flakes incorporated into sauces or coatings must be assessed with those recipes.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    May be compatible
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · May be compatible
May fit a paleo pattern, depending on the cut or form, processing and added ingredients.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Pacific Nutrient Database 2020 — 01.1.9.4.0_99 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .